Apparatus for molding clay or similar material.



v n. w. McNEIL. APPARATUS FOR MOLDING CLAY 0R SlMlLAR MATERIAL.

I TlON FILED FEB 9 1910 APPLICA 1,142,341 Patented June 8, 1915.

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n. w. 'McNEIL. APPARATUS FOR MOLDING CLAY 0B,..SIMILAR MATERIAL.

v APPLICATJQN min FEB.9. 1910. 1,142,341.

Patented June 8,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

50 as earthenware or vitreous china.

swarms Parana caries.

DANIEL W. MONEIL, OF EASTNORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE-JOHN DOUGLAS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1915..

Application filedle'bruary 9, 1910. Se'rial No. 542,826.

lar Material, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for moldingclay or similar material, and is especially adapted to the manufacture of hollow ware.

The method forms the subject matter of another application filed by me September 13' v1910, and numbered 581,842.

The ob'ect of the invention is to provide J qulck'means for forming sald material in a mold, means whereby the same may be readily and uickly removed from the mold, and means w ereby the material forming the article molded shall contain as little moisture as possibleso that the same will dry in a very short time compared with the wet process now in general use.

My invention comprises an improved core or chum for the mold, which shall primarily cooperate in confining the material in the mold and against the sides thereof, in approximately the form in which it is to be compressed. This improved core or chum is then expanded to compress the material against the surrounding mold into its final shape.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section on line 11 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with part in section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the movable sides of the mold. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the other movable side. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the bottom element of the mold. Fig. 6 is a similar view of a top element. Fig. 7 is a similar view of an end element. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a supporting frame. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a wedge.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

I have shown my invention in the accompanyi' 'g' drawings as applied .to an'apparatus for molding' a tank 0 clay material, such Fig. 1 indicates the several parts in asseinbled operative relationship. 10 is the base of the mold, to which are pivotally secured or hinged by the pivot pins 11 and'12 the side elements13 and 14. The top element 15 is recessed, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6, to cotiperate in locking in operative position, the side elements'l3 and 14. Element 15 is provided with the shoulders 16 for engaging the upper ends of elements 13 and 14 to prevent their opening-outwardly. Element 15 is also provided with' the recesses 17 adapted to engage the arms 18 of said side members 13 and 14. Arms18'are provided with apertures 19 for receiving the wedges 20, which look the elements 13, 14 and 15 securely together. The bottom element 10 is also provided with recesses 21 for receiving the fingers 22 of elements 13 and. 14. The fingers 22 of members 13 and 14 are provided with the apertures 23, and the member 10 is provided with the registering apertures 24 for receiving: the pivot pins 11 and 12.

The side members 13 and 14 are provided with the shoulders 25 and 26 for engaging the end pieces 27 for holding same in position. Y

The frame 28 is adapted to fit in the recess 29 of bottom member 10. This frame 28 provides means for supporting and removing the molded article 36, when the same has been compressed.

The expansible chum or core 30 is made of heavy rubber or other similar material, having walls of such thickness and consistency as to make the same self-supporting, that is, able to retain its shape under normal conditions, and consequently nearly rigid and also to enable it to support the weight of clay or similar material to be used in orming the articles 36. This chum 30 is provided with a horizontal inwardly extending rim or lip 31, adapted to rest upon the top of base 10. Upon this rim 31 rests the frame 32 which is clamped down by the yokes 33 and bolts 34. By tightening the nut 35, the frame 32 is pressed firmly against the rim or lip 31 of chum 30 holding the same securely to the base, and preventing any leak of fluid: or air between the chum 40, extends from near molded. I The operation of my deviceis as follows:

'. and the top of with loose material.

in the form of a nearly dry dpowder, is prac about the.core-,.,

the core or chum 3011s also opening 39' for connection with'a suitablet pump or compressor'not shown. The pipe the top of the'chum through channel 37 downwardly, and is open at the top and is controlled near its lower extension by the cock 41. g

It will be understood that the inner walls of the mold correspond to the outerJsurface' of the article to be formed thereby. The chum or core is of corresponding shape, but

of less dimensions; that is, when normal, 1t is of suificiently lessdimensions to provide just space enough between it and the mold to receive the required amount of clay or similar material to form the article to be The mold is placed in theposition shown in Fig. 1,. with the exception that the cap or top element 15 is removed. The space between the core or chum 30, and the sides and ends 13, 14: and 27 of the mold, is filled This material, which is tically poured into the mol covered with a sufiicient thickness ,of said material. The cap or top 15 is then put into place as shown in Fig. '1, and locked. firml in said position by the-wedges 20. Flui or compressed air is then made to enter through T 38, and pass channel 37 to the interior of core or chum 30, causing the said core or chumto expand and press the surrounding material against the inside walls of the'mold. It will be'understood that the material, while in the loose unconfined "state,

powder,

resembles an. almost dry but when the same is put under considerable pressure, of thecore in the mold, a suflicient proportion of moisture will be contained in the mass-to cause the mass to maintain the shapein which it has been compressed. The amount of such moisture required to main- 'tain the mass in its compressed shape'iscomclay ,great that it requires a great deal of time for dryenough to be kiln assoon as the method of the mold in a wet or reqinred to mo paratively extremely small, 'so that the compressed article is almost dry enough for the it comes out of the mold.

This is obviously a great improvement in molding clay articles now in common use, in which the clay is'placed in to say, when the materlal is formed by hand upon the core, a great deal of moisture is hold the clay in place while the d is being assembled; and after such has been pressed, the moisture is so the piece of work to dry, while, as' above stated, by my process the article is almost placed in the kiln immediately as it comes out of the mold.

If liquid is used in expanding the core or chum, th cock 4:1 is opened to permit the having a side self supporting through thev as by the expanding plastic state. That is having a sid escape, through pipe 4:0,of air displaced by the liquid. As soon as the water, ,for example, is seen to escape through. pipe 40, the, cock 41 is closed.

As soon as suiilcient pressure is exerted upon the material in the mold, by expanding the rubber chum, the fluid is permitted to escape from the core, through T 38. This permits the-chumto assume its original di- I inension. The cap or top 15 is then remoi ed, the sides 14 and. 13 are opened up, and the ends 27 are also removed. The rectangular frame 28 may now'be lifted to carry and remove the compressed article 36 from over the core or chum 30, after which the operation is repeated.

It will be understood that my invention is not to be confined to thes'pecifie embodiment above described as a preferred form or as an example. My claims are intended to include all reasonable equivalents, andsare 4 not to beconstrued to have limitations not absolutely necessary or else specifically recited.

What I claim is 1. Means for receiving and pressing powdered or loose clay or similar material,'in the production of hollow ware receptacles or sides and a covered end, comprising a mold, a somewhat expansible of the powdered material, and means for expanding the chum powdered material.

3. Means for receiving and pressing powdered or loose clay or similar material in the production of hollow ware receptacles having .a side or' sides and a covered end comprising a mold, an elastic nearlfy rigid chum within the mold, normally 0 come-- spondin and almost the same contour to the insi e of the object but of lesser dimensions, and means for expanding the chum.

4. Means for receiving and pressing powdered or loose clay 'or similar material in the productlon of hollow w'are rece and compacting. the

prising 'a mold having separable elements and means for locking the same into operative relationship, an elastic self sup orting chum within the mold, normally of correa self supporting ex-- tacles e or sides and a closed en ,com-

chum within the mold norwhereby a space is proexpanding the chum and thereby compact a base, side elements into cooperative relationship, an elastic self supporting chum within the mold, normally of corresponding and almost the same contour but of lesser dimensions, and means for ing the powdered material of the outer mold.

' 6. The combination against the sides of a mold, comprising having intermeshing fingers pivotally connected withthe base, en elements adapted to be engaged and held x in place by the said side elements, a cap or top element adapted to have interlockin engagement with. the side elements, an

wedges or cotters for maintaining said interlocking relationshi n. elastic subst m v terlocking relationship,

tially rigid chum of a contour corresponding to but smaller than the contour of the mol interior having walls of suflicient thickness and stability normally to maintain its shape, and'means for expanding the chum.

7." The combination of a mold, comprising abase, side elements having intermeshing fingers pivotally connected with the base end elements adapted to be engaged and held in place by or top element adapted to have interlockin engagement with the. side elements, and wedges or cotters for maintaining sad inan elastic substan the said side elements, a cap 85 tially rigid chum of a contour corresponding 40 to but smaller than the contour of the mold interior having walls of sufiicient thickness and stability normally to maintain a required contour, means for clamping said chum to the-base of the mold and means for expandingthe chum. DANIEL W. McNEIL,

I Witnesses:

.L. BEnsEN,

MAE HOFMANN. Y 

